A week later, Tokai Teio walked out of the hospital, leaving behind the incredulous stares of her doctors.
Breathing in the fresh air for the first time in seven days, she took a long, deep draw, filling her lungs.
Symboli Rudolf had already handled the discharge paperwork. If she wanted to return to Tracen Academy, she could go back right this second.
At the same time, Rudolf had dropped a subtle hint that if she needed more time to rest, there was no need to rush back to school.
But at this moment, rest was the last thing on Teio's mind. Her thoughts were consumed by a certain Uma Musume.
That girl's silhouette had been etched into Teio's heart since the moment she was admitted.
Whenever she closed her eyes, she didn't see darkness; she saw the flash of that red ribbon tied to the end of the other girl's hair.
Strictly speaking, this obsession had started right after the Satsuki Sho.
Every time Teio pushed her training to the absolute limit, that girl's back would flicker in her mind, forcing her to grit her teeth and stand back up to keep going.
Back then, Teio's feelings toward her were a messy tangle of frustration and anger. She couldn't accept that she had lost to an opponent who seemingly had no emotional connection to the turf.
It infuriated her that someone blessed with talent that could tower over the world wouldn't cherish the stage they stood upon.
Because Teio couldn't see a shred of passion in her, she felt that rather than being an Uma Musume, the girl was more like a machine wearing an Uma Musume's skin.
Everything Teio had done up until now was to prove that girl wrong.
She wanted to win.
She wanted to use her own victory to show her that she was headed down the wrong path—to tell her that on the track, pure passion for that world mattered just as much as raw strength.
But she had failed. Faced with a chasm of absolute power, no amount of resolve could bridge the gap.
Like Icarus chasing the sun, the closer she got, the more she was destined to be burned to a crisp.
After the Japan Derby, Teio thought it was all over. She felt she had no future left, let alone a chance to prove the other girl wrong. The conviction she had relied on to grow was severed cleanly by her opponent.
Strength could, in fact, overcome love. Whether that person had passion for the turf or not, she would win all the same.
Yet, just as Teio was ready to give up, on the day after the Derby, she saw something sprouting in the girl's eyes that shouldn't have been there.
Dream Weaver was becoming curious about the race track. Even if it was only because of Teio, she finally had a reason to stand on the turf for something other than the expectations of others.
More than fulfilling anyone's hopes, she wanted to see Teio again at the Kikuka Sho, rising once more like a phoenix.
It was a beginning—a spark of emotion for the sport.
And that spark had been ignited by Teio herself.
Realizing this left Teio in a state of utter confusion. She never imagined that despite losing the race, she would be the one to make the girl interested in the track.
If she had won the Derby, Teio could have easily played the role of the victor and guide, pointing the way for Dream Weaver. But she had lost, and yet, the girl had changed because of her anyway.
So, how was Teio supposed to face Dream Weaver now?
That was the source of her bewilderment. But before Teio could settle on an answer, the very person causing this internal chaos showed up at her hospital room.
Faced with Dream Weaver's undisguised kindness, Teio hadn't a clue how to respond. She could only avert her eyes and try to change the subject, muttering about how the girl must have been scammed.
Right up until the moment Dream Weaver hurried out of the room as quickly as she'd arrived, Teio still hadn't decided what to do. She ended up grumbling about how removing a cast was a pain even as she applied the medicine with reluctant honesty.
It wasn't that she actually believed Dream Weaver's words—Teio still thought the girl had been duped—but she simply couldn't say no.
She couldn't turn away someone who offered such genuine kindness right after being met with her own sharp tongue and sour attitude.
Then, Dream Weaver defied Teio's expectations yet again. That bottle of medicine, which looked for all the world like some knock-off product designed to swindle old folks and fools, actually worked a miracle.
The fracture that should have taken at least three months to heal had mended in a single week.
What's more, according to the doctor, the density of Teio's bones had actually increased slightly.
If she ever had another explosive burst of speed like she did at the Derby, her legs might actually hold up this time.
This reality was so ridiculous it was almost impossible to accept, leaving Teio more lost than ever.
She brushed off the doctor who was busy shouting about "medical miracles" and spent a week lost in thought in her room.
To be honest, Teio still hadn't figured out how she should act around Dream Weaver. It was as if a whole week of thinking had amounted to nothing.
However, she knew one thing for certain: the person she wanted to see most after leaving the hospital was Dream Weaver.
Whatever these feelings were, they wouldn't find their release until they were face-to-face.
Of course, Teio refused to admit that to herself. It would make it seem like she was seeking her out to ask for help, and she didn't want to be an Uma Musume who relied on her rival for hope.
Even though she had already accepted an unimaginable amount of help, Teio instinctively didn't want to be just another person "saved" by her.
"A medicine that heals a fracture in a week has to be incredibly precious. I have to return the favor as soon as possible."
Teio muttered to herself, tightening her grip on her backpack straps.
Having given herself a valid reason to approach Dream Weaver, she hesitated no longer and strode out of the hospital toward the train station.
A week had passed since Dream Weaver's visit. Since it was a school day, the girl was bound to be at Central Tracen. Without a second thought, Teio hopped on the train headed for the academy.
However, she had been discharged in the afternoon. Between the walk to the station, the train ride, and the trek from the Central Tracen stop to the campus, school was already letting out by the time she reached the gates.
Watching the crowd of Uma Musume bustling out of the school, Teio looked around anxiously. She couldn't find that familiar figure anywhere. Feeling a bit deflated, she whispered to herself.
"Did I miss her...? I guess I'll have to wait until tomorrow."
Just as Teio was about to give up and head to the dorms, a silhouette caught the corner of her eye—one she could never forget.
But before she could call out, Teio saw another Uma Musume walking right beside her, the two of them chatting and laughing together.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
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If you guys wanna check it out.